Reuters reported that the Washington administration demanded control of the key gas pipeline passing through Ukraine - which carries Russian gas to Europe - as part of a "weapon debt repayment" deal between Washington and Kiev.
The latest meeting between US and Ukrainian officials took place on 11.4, revolving around the White House proposal on a mineral agreement. Accordingly, Mr. Trump wants Ukraine to cede valuable resources - including rare soil metals, oil and gas - as a form of "repay" for the number of weapons that the predecessor of President Joe Biden has aid in the early years of conflict.
Reuters news agency revealed that the latest US draft is even more tougher than the proposal made in February, which includes a transfer requirement to the US worth US $ 500 billion. Now, the US also requires control of gas pipeline from Sudzha town (Russia) to the city of Uzhhorod (Ukraine), close to the EU border and Slovakia.
The more than 1,200-km pipeline was built during the Soviet era and is one of Europe's main energy routes.
The gas contract between Ukraine and Gazprom Group (Russia) has expired on January 1, 2025. During many years, including the time of escalating conflict, the two sides still collected hundreds of millions of euros of the air of burning air.
However, the source from Kiev said that the US is seeking "thorough self -seeking", and Washington's existing claims can hardly be accepted.
Previously, in the fall of last year, President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed giving the US access to Ukraine's un exploited minerals, in exchange for arms aid from the Trump administration in the future.
However, Mr. Trump now rejects all security commitments and military assistance, but still requires a share in the field of resources.
Last week, Mr. Trump accused Mr. Zelensky wanting to "turn over" and warn that the Ukrainian President would have a "big problem" if he did not sign an agreement.
Speaking on April 10, Mr Zelensky affirmed his readiness to cooperate to modernize the country, but all deals need to ensure justice, with revenue shared in half at a ratio of 50-50.
"I am protecting what belongs to Ukraine. It needs to benefit both sides," said Zelensky. The US Department of Finance confirmed that "technical" negotiations were still ongoing.
In another development, the American special envoy to Ukraine - Mr. Keith Kellogg - rejected the information that he supported Ukraine's division as Berlin post -post -World War II. On social network X, he explained his intention to build "a post -family force to support Ukrainian sovereignty", not to divide the country.
Meanwhile, according to The Guardian, at St. Petersburg, Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff - met Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the plan to end the conflict.
The solution Witkoff proposed was that the US would accept Russia's demand for four Ukrainian provinces, including those still under Kiev's control and with about 1 million people.
On the same day, the Ukrainian Defense League group also announced a record military aid package worth 21 billion euros from Kiev's allies. These countries accused Russia in delaying a 30 -day ceasefire agreement that Ukraine agreed.
